Transforming Building 63 into a modern hub for the Faculty of IT

SHAPE were engaged by Monash University to complete the refurbishment of two and a half floors of Building 63 at their Clayton Campus. The new space, created to house the Faculty of IT, which was previously located across two campuses, was designed to promote flexibility and collaboration within its workspaces.

The project involved heavy demolition, including sections of the exterior façade to extend the footprint of the building. These sections, located across the ground floor and on level 2, were developed into structural steel pop outs, featuring full-height glazing and internal banquette seating. The level 2 pop outs in particular were a unique feature as they cantilever out from the original structure. Installation on site required crane lifts, along with a mix of hoarding and temporary fences to create an exclusion zone for the duration of the works.

The fitout included a full services refresh, new ceilings, joinery and furniture as well as refurbishment to offices, meeting rooms, breakout spaces and kitchen areas. The south wing of the ground floor accommodated the student services, featuring a staff and student hub, while the west wing included a large open plan research and event space with multiple glazed top-hung operable walls allowing for flexible use of the area. Level 1 consisted of mainly cosmetic refurbishments, as well as the installation of a curved, full-height, smoke compartment glazing around the internal stair void. Internal works on level 2 included a combination of offices and open plan workspaces for the back of house section of the faculty.

The scope of works also included significant landscaping packages. A rooftop terrace on level 2 featured perimeter planter boxes, with hardy native plants and a balustrade component, while the ground floor included both hard and soft landscaping works, with the installation of planter seating, pavement, soil and plants. The project also had a notable environmental focus and included the installation of solar panels to power the comms rack, double glazing throughout, and smart sensors to detect the amount of natural light inside the building and alter lighting as required.